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Abstract:

The present invention includes an electrolytic bath with increased
contact specific surface area configured to effectively electrodeposit
valuable metals from waste water, wherein the specific surface area of an
electrode contacting the waste water is maximized to increase
electrolysis efficiency, and electrolysis space is increased to enable
effective electrodeposition and recovery of valuable metals from
low-concentration waste water. The electrolytic bath comprises: a housing
having an inlet, outlet, gas discharge hole, and inner space; an anode
group comprising a plurality of anodes installed in the inner space; a
cathode group installed between the anodes to form two electrolysis
spaces, and cathode wire threads placed on one side of each electrolysis
spaces. As waste water flows through the inlet and electrolysis spaces
and then is discharged through the outlet, metal is electrodeposited onto
the cathode group and gas is discharged through the gas discharge hole.

Claims:

1. An electrolytic bath for recovering valuable metals with increased
contact specific surface area, comprising: a housing having an internal
space, on one side of which an inlet is formed and on the other side of
which an outlet and a gas discharge hole are formed; an anode group
consisting of a plurality of anodes arranged to surround the inside of
the housing; and a cathode group surrounding the inside of the housing,
which is arranged between the anodes and divides a space adjoining the
anodes into two electrolysis spaces in which a quantity of cathode wire
thread is placed on one side of the respective electrolysis spaces and a
specific surface area with which waste water contact is increased wherein
the waste water inputted through the inlet passes through in sequence the
plural electrolysis spaces and valuable metals are deposited electrically
and recovered on the cathode group including a quantity of cathode wire
thread and gas is discharged through the gas discharge hole and is
discharged outside through the outlet.

2. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a
cylinder shape having an internal space, and the cathode group comprises:
a middle cathode which divides the space between adjoining anodes into
two parts, surrounds the internal space of the housing, is shaped as a
cylinder and has a plate configuration; a first cathode which is placed
inside and spaced from the middle cathode, is a cylinder shape and has a
network configuration; and a second cathode which is placed outside and
spaced from the middle cathode, is a cylinder shape and has a network
configuration, and a quantity of cathode wire thread is filled within an
interval space formed by the first cathode and the middle cathode and an
interval space formed by the second cathode and the middle cathode.

3. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 1, wherein a cathode of the
cathode group and an anode of the anode group are made of unplated
titanium material.

4. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 2, wherein a cathode of the
cathode group and an anode of the anode group are made of unplated
titanium material.

5. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 2, wherein the cathode wire
thread is a coil spring shape and a plurality of the cathode wire threads
are arranged closely.

6. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 2, wherein the cathode wire
thread is clustered to an adjoining cathode wire thread to form a dish
sponge shape.

7. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 2, wherein the lower end of
the cathode group is seated in the bottom surface of the housing, and
waste water flows over the upper part of the middle cathode and is
transferred to an adjoining electrolysis space.

8. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 2, wherein the anode group
comprises an internal anode which is formed as a cylinder shape of a
network configuration, and is placed on the middle part of internal space
of the housing, and an external anode which is formed as a cylinder shape
of a plate configuration and is placed in a space from inner side wall of
the housing, and forms a waste water output path communicated to the
outlet wherein the internal anode is seated and fixed to the bottom
surface of the housing, and the external anode is fixed to the upper
surface of the housing to form downward a waste water output path
distance.

9. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 8, wherein the housing has an
inlet passed through the bottom surface thereof, an outlet on the upper
part of a side wall, and a gas discharge hole on the upper surface
thereof, and further the internal anode and the middle cathode form a
first electrolysis space and the external anode and the middle electrode
form a second electrolysis space which is connected to the first
electrolysis space through an `S` shaped flow path, wherein the waste
water inputted through the inlet passes through the first electrolysis
space and the second electrolysis space in a sequence and is discharged
through the outlet.

10. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 9, further including a fluid
avoidance ball which is configured to block the gas discharge hole
depending on internal pressure so that gas is moved freely and leaking of
waste water is avoided.

11. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 9, wherein the housing
comprises a cylindrical external body the upper part and lower part of
which are opened and on an upper one side of which a plurality of the
outlets are formed, a lower cap which is connected to a lower part of the
external body to form a bottom surface of the housing and on the middle
of which the inlet is formed, and an upper cap which is connected to an
upper part of the external body to form an upper surface of the housing
and on one side of which the gas discharge hole is formed.

12. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 11, wherein the lower cap may
further comprise an input path communicated to the inlet, and a plurality
of input path ports which are communicated to the input path and inputs
the waste water into the first electrolysis space formed between the
internal anode and the middle cathode.

13. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 12, wherein the lower cap
comprises a flow guide bar which protrudes upwardly and is placed on the
internal part of the internal anode.

14. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 1, wherein the inlet is
connected to an external input tube path through which the waste water is
transferred from external place and an external pump is provided on one
side of the external input tube path for inputting compulsively the waste
water into the housing.

15. An electrolytic bath having anode and cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 14, wherein an addition input
tube path for compulsively inputting a current density addition to
increase electric conductivity is provided on one side of the external
input tube path, and the addition input tube path is controlled by a
control valve.

16. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 9, wherein the inlet is
connected to an external input tube path through which the waste water is
transferred from external place and an external pump is provided on one
side of the external input tube path for inputting compulsively the waste
water into the housing.

17. An electrolytic bath having anode and cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 16, wherein an addition input
tube path for compulsively inputting a current density addition to
increase electric conductivity is provided on one side of the external
input tube path, and the addition input tube path is controlled by a
control valve.

18. An electrolytic bath having an anode and a cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according claim 11, wherein the inlet is
connected to an external input tube path through which the waste water is
transferred from external place and an external pump is provided on one
side of the external input tube path for inputting compulsively the waste
water into the housing.

19. An electrolytic bath having anode and cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 18, wherein an addition input
tube path for compulsively inputting a current density addition to
increase electric conductivity is provided on one side of the external
input tube path, and the addition input tube path is controlled by a
control valve.

20. An electrolytic bath having anode and cathode for depositing
electrically and recovering valuable metals containing waste water using
an electrolysis process according to claim 11, wherein the housing
further comprises a fluid avoidance ball which is configured to stop up
the gas discharge hole depending on a pressure of the internal space of
the housing so that gas is moved freely and leakage of waste water is
avoided, and the upper cap further comprises a avoidance ball fence
network having a network configuration, which supports the fluid
avoidance ball and controls a free movement of the ball within the
internal space of the housing.

Description:

CLAIM TO FOREIGN PRIORITY

[0001] The present application is a U.S. National Stage Application filed
under 35 U.S.C. 371 claiming priority from International Application No.
PCT/KR2009/005212, filed Sep. 14, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrolytic bath for
electrodepositing and efficiently recovering recyclable valuable metals
from plating waste water or waste water containing valuable metals, and
more particularly, to an electrolytic bath for recovering valuable
metals, which has more contact specific surface area of an electrode with
which waste water contact is maximized to improve electrolysis efficiency
and increase electrolysis space so that valuable metals are
electrodeposited and recovered efficiently from waste water containing
lower concentration of valuable metals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Generally, it has been practically important in view of the
increase in value of waste resources and of avoiding environment
contamination that valuable metals are recycled from scraps from
electronic device such as a print circuit board used for various
electronic products, or from waste catalyst that comes mainly from a
chemical factory. Further, because of the amount of heavy metals
contained in waste water from a plating factory or clothing factory,
etc., or waste water produced when developing photographs, it is
important in view of the increase in value of waste resource and of
avoiding environment contamination that the waste water is recycled and
the valuable metals are recovered efficiently.

[0004] As for a method for treating waste water containing Pt, Rh, Au, Ag,
Cu, etc., and recovering them, it has been proposed that the waste
resource is crushed and then leached with a solvent of acid or alkali,
etc., and valuable metals are obtained using a chemical precipitation
method or electrolysis method. The electrolysis method is used partly not
only when recovering the valuable metals or heavy metals contained in
waste water but also when treating or producing general inorganic
compounds or organic compounds. However, there are drawbacks in that
treatment time is long and efficiency is low using existing electrolytic
equipment and further it occupies a large space.

[0005] The existing electrolytic equipment for electrolysis resultant
product within waste water and obtaining final product is configured
generally such that anodes and cathodes of a parallel plate type are
arranged alternatively within an electrolytic bath. Under this type of an
electrolytic bath, material is moved through only diffusion and thus the
solution is compulsively convective through stirring or gas injection to
increase material movement velocity. However, there is a limitation
electrolysis condition of a high current density. This electrolytic bath
may be configured as a rectangular shape or column shape depending on
necessity thereof.

[0006] Referring to a waste water treatment method used in a current
plating industry, the waste water is mainly slugged with a chemical agent
and buried in the ground. Valuable metal components within the waste
water and industrial water are not recycled but are discharged outside,
causing serious environmental contamination and incurring the cost of
treating them with the chemical agent.

[0007] FIG. 1 shows electrolytic bath 100 according to one embodiment of a
prior art for electrically depositing and recovering valuable metals from
plating waste water or waste water containing valuable metals, wherein
cylindrical internal electrode plate 130 and cylindrical external
electrode plate 120 are arranged inside cylindrical housing 110 within
which internal cavity 113 is formed. Inlet 112 and outlet 111 through
which waste water is inputted and discharged are formed in housing 110.

[0008] Through the above configuration, electric power is supplied from an
external power source (not shown) to internal electrode 130 and external
electrode 120 and then current is applied thereto. At this time, the
polarities of internal electrode 130 and external electrode 120 may be
arranged arbitrarily wherein one assumes the negative and the other
assumes the positive.

[0009] From the above polarities of the electrodes, electrons are supplied
to the cathode from the power source and cations in the waste water
(solution) within the electrolytic bath are diffused to a surface of the
cathode wherein an electrochemical reaction occurs, that is, the cations
receive electrons and are reduced to deposit valuable metals on the
cathode and recover them.

[0010] However, according to prior electrolytic bath 100 having one
cathode and one anode, since the specific surface area of the cathode is
not large, the contact area between the waste water in the electrolytic
bath and the cathode is small, and the contact time is short, causing the
valuable metals to not be recovered efficiently. In addition, referring
to a low concentration of the waste water, that is, the waste water
contains valuable metals of 10 ppm or less, since the contact specific
surface area is very small, depositing and recovering the valuable metal
is difficult, causing the efficiency of deposition and recovering to be
low.

[0011] In other words, since the reduction process occurs on a surface of
a simple cathode, there arise problems in that reaction speed is limited
and thus several electrolytic baths 100 are necessary for achieving mass
production, and further that electrolysis efficiency decreases
significantly as time passes.

[0012] Meanwhile, generally titanium (Ti) is used for the electrode plate
material because Ti has the advantage of not being dissolved in the aqua
regia used for recovering the valuable metals. However, Ti has low
electric conductivity and thus other metal having high electric
conductivity or a combination thereof is plated to a surface of the Ti
electrode plate.

[0013] Additionally, an electrode plate of a dish sponge configuration
which increases the specific surface area on which the valuable metals
are electrically deposited and recovered has been used as the cathode,
however, the cathode of the dish sponge configuration is fabricated such
that a shape thereof is fabricated with a polymer compound (plastic) and
then the surface thereof is coated with a metal having high electric
conductivity such as copper (Cu) in order to increase electric
conductivity, causing fabrication of a cathode of the dish sponge
configuration to be difficult.

[0014] In addition, when the electrodes surfaces are coated with high
electric conductivity metals, the coating metals are dissolved by
additions (citric acid, cleaning agent, etc.) which are inputted during
the electrolysis process in order to recover the valuable metals and then
are extracted as impurities, causing overall electrolysis efficiency to
be lowered.

[0015] Furthermore, the waste water which is inputted into the
electrolytic bath 100 assumes a neutrality, acidity or alkalinity
property depending on their characteristic properties and the metals
plated on the surface of the electrode are dissolved depending on the pH
of the waste water inputted into the electrolytic bath 100, causing the
electrolysis efficiency to be lowered. As a result, these electrodes are
not able to be recycled after recovering the valuable metals one time and
thus have to be replaced. Accordingly, there is a need for an
electrolytic bath in which the specific surface area in contact with the
waste water is enlarged and through which electrolysis efficiency for
recovering the valuable metals is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an
electrolytic bath for depositing electrically and recovering valuable
metals according to the present invention comprises: a housing having an
internal space, on one side of which an inlet is formed and on the other
side of which an outlet and gas discharge hole are formed; a anode group
consisting of a plurality of anodes arranged to surround the inside of
the housing; and a cathode group surrounding the inside of the housing,
which is arranged between the anodes and divides a space adjoining the
anodes into two electrolysis spaces in which a quantity of cathode wire
thread is placed on one side of the respective electrolysis space and the
specific surface area in contact with the waste water is increased. Here,
the waste water inputted through the inlet passes through in sequence the
plural electrolysis spaces and valuable metals are deposited electrically
and recovered on the cathode group including a quantity of cathode wire
thread and gas is discharged through the gas discharge hole and is
discharged outside through the outlet.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing
is a cylinder shape having an internal space.

[0018] In addition, the cathode group comprises: a middle cathode which
divides the space between adjoining anodes into two parts, surrounds the
internal space of the housing, is shaped as a cylinder, and has a plate
configuration; a first cathode which is placed inside and spaced from the
middle cathode, is shaped as a cylinder, and has a network configuration;
and a second cathode which is placed outside and spaced from the middle
cathode, is shaped as a cylinder and has a network configuration. A
quantity of cathode wire thread fills the space between the first cathode
and middle cathode and the space between the second cathode and middle
cathode.

[0019] A cathode of the cathode group and an anode the anode group are
made of unplated titanium material.

[0020] Furthermore, the cathode wire thread has a coil spring shape and a
plurality of the cathode wire threads are arranged closely.

[0021] Additionally, the cathode wire thread is clustered to an adjoining
one to form a dish sponge shape.

[0022] Preferably the lower end of the cathode group is seated in the
bottom surface of the housing, and waste water flows over the upper part
of the middle cathode and is transferred to an adjoining electrolysis
space.

[0023] Furthermore, the anode group comprises an internal anode which is
formed as a cylinder shape of a network configuration and is placed on
the middle part of internal space of the housing, and an external anode
which is formed as a cylinder shape of a plate configuration, is placed
in a space from the inner side wall of the housing, and forms a waste
water output path communicated to the outlet. The internal anode is
seated and fixed to the bottom surface of the housing and the external
anode is fixed to the upper surface of the housing to form a waste water
output path downward distance.

[0024] Preferably the housing has an inlet formed through the bottom
surface thereof, an outlet on the upper part of a side wall, and a gas
discharge hole on the upper surface thereof. The internal anode and
middle cathode form a first electrolysis space and the external anode and
middle electrode form a second electrolysis space which is connected to
the first electrolysis space through an `S` shaped flow path, wherein the
waste water inputted through the inlet passes through the first
electrolysis space and second electrolysis space in a sequence and is
discharged through the outlet.

[0025] Additionally, if necessary, the housing further comprises a fluid
avoidance ball which is configured to block the gas discharge hole
depending on the internal pressure so that gas moves freely and waste
water being leaked is avoided.

[0026] Furthermore, the housing comprises a cylindrical external body the
upper part and lower part of which are open and on an upper side of which
a plurality of outlets are formed, a lower cap which is connected to the
lower part of the external body to form a bottom surface of the housing
and on the middle of which the inlet is formed, and an upper cap which is
connected to the upper part of the external body to form an upper surface
of the housing and on one side of which the gas discharge hole is formed.

[0027] The lower cap may further comprise an input path communicated to
the inlet, and a plurality of input path ports which are communicated to
the input path and inputs the waste water into the first electrolysis
space formed between the internal anode and middle cathode.

[0028] Furthermore, the lower cap comprises a flow guide bar which
protrudes upward and is placed on the internal part of the internal
electrode.

[0029] The inlet is connected to an external input tube path through which
the waste water is transferred from an external place, and an external
pump is provided on one side of the external input tube path for
compulsively inputting the waste water into the housing.

[0030] Additionally, an addition input tube path for compulsively
inputting a current density addition to increase electric conductivity is
provided on one side of the external input tube path. The addition input
tube path is controlled by a control valve.

[0031] The housing further comprises a fluid avoidance ball which is
configured to stop up the gas discharging port depending on a pressure of
the internal space of the housing so that gas is moved freely and leakage
of waste water is avoided, and the upper cap further comprises a
avoidance ball fence network having a network configuration, which
supports the fluid avoidance ball and controls the free movement of the
ball within the internal space of the housing.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows schematically an electrolytic bath for recovering
valuable metals in which the contact specific surface area is increased
according to the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a partly perspective and sectional view showing
schematically an electrolytic bath for recovering valuable metals in
which the contact specific surface area is increased according to the
present invention.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing schematically an electrolytic
bath for recovering valuable metals in which the contact specific surface
area is increased according to the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment of the cathode wire thread
applied to an electrolytic bath for recovering valuable metals in which
the contact specific surface area is increased according to the present
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The preferred embodiments of an electrolytic bath for recovering
valuable metals in which the contact specific surface area is increased
according to the present invention will be described in detail referring
to the accompanied drawings.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows schematically an electrolytic bath for recovering
valuable metals in which the contact specific surface area is increased
according to the present invention.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, an electrolytic bath 1 for recovering valuable
metals in which the contact specific surface area is increased according
to the present invention is characterized in that the specific surface
area of an electrode with which the waste water inputted into the
electrolytic bath 1 is contacted is maximized to increase electrolysis
efficiency so that recyclable valuable metals from plating waste water or
from other waste water containing valuable metals are electrically
deposited and recovered efficiently, and the space in which electrolysis
process is performed is increased so that even if the waste water
contains minute amounts of valuable metals, the valuable metals are
electrically deposited and recovered efficiently.

[0040] For the aforementioned purpose, electrolytic bath 1 for recovering
valuable metals according to the present invention has a cathode and
anode, and electrically deposits valuable metals using electrolysis. The
electrolytic bath comprises anode group 20 in which a plurality of anodes
are arranged in a space, cathode group 30 which is placed between the
above spaces, forms an electrolysis space together with the anode, and on
which valuable metals are electrically deposited upon electric power
being supplied, and housing 10 having an internal space into which anode
group 20 and cathode group 30 can be arranged.

[0041] Cathode group 30 divides the space between the anodes into a
plurality of electrolysis spaces wherein a quantity of wire thread is
filled in one side of the electrolysis space to increase specific surface
area contacted with waste water. Preferably, two cathodes 32 and 33 each
have a network structure, and plate cathode 31 is placed between cathodes
32 and 33. A quantity of cathode wire thread 34 is placed in spaces a and
b formed between plate cathode 31 and the two cathodes 32 and 33 having
network structures, causing the contact specific surface area to be
increased.

[0042] Cathode wire thread 34 is configured as a coil spring shape and
disposed to completely fill spaces a and b, or is combined with nearby
cathode wire thread to form a dish sponge configuration.

[0043] Configuring the cathode wire thread 34 in the above way maximizes
the specific surface area of cathode group 30 which increases the amount
of valuable metals electrically deposited from within the waste water,
causing electrolysis efficiency, that is, valuable metals recovery
efficiency to be increased.

[0044] Electrolytic bath 1 having the above configuration for recovering
valuable metals according to the present invention will be described
again referring to FIG. 2 as follows.

[0045] Electrolytic bath 1 for recovering valuable metals through an
electrical deposition thereon comprises housing 10, anode group 20 and
cathode group 30 within housing 10. Housing 10 has inlet 11 on one side
thereof through which waste water is inputted, outlet 12 on the other
side, and an internal space on which gas discharging port 13 is formed
and which provides a space within which the waste water is electrolyzed.
Preferably, inlet 11 is configured to pass through the bottom surface of
housing 10, outlet 12 is formed on an upper part of the side wall of
housing 10 and gas discharging port 13 is formed on the upper surface of
housing 10.

[0046] Anode group 20 is formed in an internal space of housing 10 and
comprises a plurality of anodes 21 and 22 surrounding the internal space.
Preferably, anodes 21 and 22 are configured such that the upper part and
lower part thereof are opened and they are shaped as a cylinder or
rectangular drum depending on the shape of housing 10.

[0047] Furthermore, cathode group 30 is arranged in an internal space of
housing 10, and preferably it surrounds the internal space and further is
formed as the same shape as the anode. Additionally, cathode group 30 is
arranged between the plurality of anodes and divides the space adjoining
anodes 21 and 22 into two electrolysis spaces A and B wherein a quantity
of cathode wire thread 34 is arranged in spaces a and b on one side of
the respective electrolysis spaces, causing the specific surface area
contacting the waste water to be increased.

[0048] Under this configuration of electrolytic bath 1 for recovering
valuable metals according to the present invention, the waste water
inputted through an inlet of housing 10 passes through in sequence the
plurality of electrolysis spaces A and B and the valuable metals
contained in the waste water are electrically deposited and recovered on
cathode group 30 comprising a quantity of cathode wire thread 34, and
then the gas produced during the depositing process, that is, during the
electrolysis process within the electrolysis space is discharged through
gas discharge hole 13 of housing 10.

[0049] Gas discharge hole 13 is designed so that the gas, rather than
being passed through the internal space of housing 10 and being filled
therein, is discharged first when the waste water passes through the
electrolysis spaces A and B depending on the electrolysis process
performed within housing 10, and thus the gas discharge hole is
essentially necessary for avoiding damage to electrolytic bath 1 and
safety risks.

[0050] Housing 10 further comprises fluid avoidance ball 14 which stops up
the gas discharge hole 13 depending on a pressure of the internal space
of the housing 10 so that gas is moved freely and leakage of waste water
is avoided. In addition, if necessary, gas discharge hole 13 and outlet
12 may be formed as plural and a part of the produced gas may be
discharged through outlet 12, together with the waste water.

[0051] Anode group 20 and cathode group 30, as known, are generally
connected to an external power source (not shown) by an electrode tip
protruding to an external part of housing 10 and the supplied power
source and then assume the roles of anode and cathodes, respectively.
Preferably, the housing from which the electrode tip protrudes may be
configured so that the waste water is not leaked outside.

[0052] Meanwhile, unplated Ti material is used for the electrodes of anode
group 20 and cathode group 30 applied to the electrolytic bath for
recovering valuable metals according to the present invention. Ti is
beneficial because it allows the valuable metals to be obtained at a high
purity in a subsequent process using aqua regia without producing
impurity.

[0053] Of course, if necessary, Ti material may be used for surfaces of
anode group 20 and cathode group 30, plated with metal having high
electrical conductivity, depending on characteristic property inputted
into electrolytic bath 1 for recovering valuable metals.

[0054] Subsequently, electrolytic bath 1 for recovering valuable metals in
which the contact specific surface area is increased will be described
referring to FIGS. 3-5 as follows.

[0055] FIG. 3 is a partly perspective and sectional view showing
schematically an electrolytic bath for recovering valuable metals in
which the contact specific surface area is increased according to the
present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing schematically an
electrolytic bath for recovering valuable metals in which the contact
specific surface area is increased according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment of cathode wire thread applied to
an electrolytic bath for recovering valuable metals in which the contact
specific surface area is increased according to the present invention.

[0056] First, referring to an embodiment of the present invention as
shown, housing 10 is formed as a cylinder having an internal space and
anode group 20 and cathode group 30 have the same shape as housing 10 in
order to surround an internal space of housing 10, however, they are not
limited to this configuration, and it has to be understood that shapes of
the anode group and cathode group can be varied to rectangular shape or
multi-rectangular shape without departing from the scope of the present
invention depending on the shape of housing 10.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 3-5, electrolytic bath 1 for recovering valuable
metals according to the present invention comprises housing 10 of a
cylinder shape having an internal space, and anode group 20 and cathode
group 30 which are arranged in the internal space of housing 10 and
surround the internal space thereof.

[0058] Inlet 11 is formed to pass through the bottom surface of housing
10, outlet 12 is formed on an upper part of the side wall of housing 10,
and gas discharge hole 13 is formed on the upper surface of housing 10.
Preferably, housing 10 comprises a cylindrical external body 10a an upper
part and lower part of which are open and which has an internal space and
is a cylindrical shape and on an upper one side of which outlet 12 is
formed through. Lower cap 10c is connected to the lower part of external
body 10a by a connection member 5 such as a screw to form a bottom
surface of the housing and on the middle of which inlet 11 is formed
through. Upper cap 10b is connected to the upper part of external body
10a by a connection member 5 such as a screw to form an upper surface of
the housing and on one side of which gas discharge hole 13 is formed
through. Preferably, outlet 12 formed on one side of external body 10a
may be formed as plurals such as 6-8, which are arranged in a space.
Additionally, gas discharging port 13 may be formed as plurals, if
necessary.

[0059] Upper cap 10b further comprises an avoidance ball fence network 15
having a network configuration, which supports fluid avoidance ball 14 so
that free movement of the ball within the internal space of housing 10
can be controlled. In other words, housing 10 further comprises fluid
avoidance ball 14 which stops up gas discharge hole 13 depending on the
internal pressure during the electrolysis process so that gas can be
moved, that is, discharged freely, but the waste water within the
internal space is not leaked. Gas discharge hole 14 is formed to pass
through the middle part of upper cap 10b of housing 10 and avoidance ball
fence network 15 having a network configuration is provided on an
internal side of upper cap 10b, which supports fluid avoidance ball 14 so
that free movement of fluid can be controlled within the internal space
of housing 10. Through this avoidance ball fence network 15 fluid
avoidance ball 14 is placed near gas discharge hole 13 and stops up gas
discharge hole 13 depending on the internal pressure, preventing the
waste water from being leaked.

[0060] Lower cap 10c of housing 10 is configured such that the waste water
is inputted first into first electrolysis space A formed by internal
anode 21 of anode group 20 and middle cathode 31 of cathode group 30,
which is placed on the middle part of housing 10, as shown in FIGS. 3 and
4, so that the waste water inputted through inlet 11 passes through in
sequence an electrolysis space for valuable metals to be deposited.
Preferably, lower cap 10c may further comprise input path 10c-1
communicated to inlet 11, and a plurality of input path port 10c-2 which
are communicated to input path 10c-1 and inputs the waste water into the
internal space of the housing. As a result, the waste water inputted
through inlet 11 is inputted to first electrolysis space A through the
plurality of input path ports 10c-2 and valuable metals are recovered.

[0061] Furthermore, the lower cap 10c may comprise, if necessary, flow
guide bar 10c-3 which protrudes upward and thus is placed on the internal
part of internal electrode 21. Flow guide bar 10c-3 guides a flow of the
waste water inputted into inlet 11 to an electrolysis space formed by
anode group 20 and cathode group 30, improving an electrolysis efficiency
and increasing the recovery rate of valuable metals.

[0062] In other words, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, internal electrode 21 of
anode group 20 has a network configuration having an internal space. Flow
guide bar 10c-3 is placed inside of internal electrode 21, is formed as
an internal sealed-bar shape, and forms a flow path for guiding the
inputted waste water to the electrolysis space side.

[0063] Meanwhile, inlet 11 formed on lower cap 10c of housing 10 is
connected, preferably to external input tube path 40 through which the
waste water is transferred from outside and further external pump P may
be provided on one side of external input tube path 40 for compulsively
inputting the waste water into housing 10.

[0064] As for the anodes and cathodes of anode group 20 and cathode group
30 used in the electrolytic bath 1 for recovering valuable metals
according to the present invention, unplated Ti material is used. Here,
in order to avoid a state that electric conductivity within the
electrolytic bath 1 is not properly maintained depending on the
properties of the input waste water and the properties of titanium,
additions input tube path 50 for compulsively injecting current density
additions to increase the current density may further be provided on one
side of external input tube path 40.

[0065] Of course, material with a surface coated with metals having high
current density may be used for anode group 20 and cathode group 30
depending on the properties of the input waste water. At this time, a
control valve (not shown) may be further provided on input tube path 50,
if necessary, and the amount and the velocity of injection of the current
density additions can be controlled manually or automatically by the
control valve.

[0066] Referring to one embodiment of electrolytic bath 1 for recovering
valuable metals in which the contact specific surface area is increased,
the valuable metals contained in waste water are electrically deposited
and recovered on cathode group 30 depending on a development of an
electrolysis process, and preferable the cathode group comprises: middle
cathode 31 which divides the space between adjoining anodes into two
parts, surrounds the internal space of the housing 10, is shaped as a
cylinder and has a plate configuration; first cathode 32 which is placed
inside and spaced from middle cathode 31, is a cylinder shape and has a
network configuration; and second cathode 33 which is placed outside and
spaced from middle cathode 31, is a cylinder shape and has a network
configuration. Meanwhile, a quantity of cathode wire thread 34 is
disposed to fill interval space a formed by first cathode 32 and middle
cathode 31 and interval space b formed by second cathode 33 and middle
cathode 31. Preferably the bottom surface of cathode group 30, that is,
the lower surface of interval spaces a and b is blocked by a network
structure or plate structure so that cathode wire thread 34 disposed
within the interval spaces a and b is not separated therefrom.

[0067] Meanwhile, cathode wire thread 34, as shown in FIG. 5(a) is formed
as a coil spring form and a plurality thereof are arranged closely within
interval spaces a and b, causing the specific surface area contacting the
waste water to be maximized. In addition, cathode wire thread 34, as
shown in FIG. 5(b), may be formed as a dish sponge by being clustered
with adjoining cathode wire thread 34 in order to increase the specific
surface. In other words, the cathode wire thread 34 may be filled inside
the interval spaces a and b as a coil spring form or dish sponge form by
being clustered with adjoining cathode wire thread 34 in order to be
adhered and detached easily and increase the specific surface.

[0068] Cathode group 30 is adhered by its lower part being adhered and
fixed to a seating groove formed on the bottom surface of housing 10,
that is, the inner side of lower cap 10c, and the waste water flowing
into an upper part of middle cathode 31 passes over middle cathode 31.
Cathode group 30 seated within the seating groove is adhered and detached
easily, and preferably the bottom surface thereof is blocked to prevent
separation of cathode wire thread 34.

[0069] In one embodiment of the present invention, anode group 20
comprises internal anode 21 formed as a cylinder form of network
configuration and placed on the middle part of the internal space of
housing 10 and external anode 22 having a cylinder form of a plate
configuration which is placed a distance d from the inner side wall of
housing 10. Internal anode 21 is seated and fixed in a seating groove
formed on the bottom surface, that is, the inner side surface of lower
cap 10c, and external anode 22 is fixed to the upper surface of housing
10, that is, to one side of upper cap 10a, which is spaced from the inner
side wall of housing 10, that is, the inner side wall of external body
10a, forming a waste water output path distance c.

[0070] Waste water output path distance c is communicated to a space
formed by distance d between external anode 22 and the inner side wall of
housing 10, and distance d as waste water output path C is communicated
to a plurality of outlets 12 on an upper side of external body 10a.
Preferably, the bottom surface of housing 10 corresponds to the inner
side surface of lower cap 10c and the upper surface of housing 10
corresponds to the inner side surface of upper cap 10b.

[0071] As described previously, anode group 20 comprises internal anode 21
and external anode 22, and cathode group 30 is placed within the space
formed by internal anode 21 and external anode 22, and middle cathode 31
of cathode group 30 forms first electrolysis space A together with
internal anode 21 and forms second electrolysis space B together with
external anode 22. Further, cathode wire thread 34 of cathode group 30
fills spaces a and b on one side of first and second electrolysis spaces
A and B by first and second cathode 32 and 33 of cathode group 30.

[0072] Additionally, first electrolysis space A and second electrolysis
space B are connected with an `S` shape flow path. The waste water
inputted through inlet 11 passes through the first and second
electrolysis space A and B and after valuable metals are deposited on the
cathode group 30 and recovered, the waste water passes outside through
outlet 12.

[0073] As described previously, electrolytic bath 1 for recovering
valuable metals in which a contact specific surface area is increased
according to the present invention is configured such that a quantity of
wire thread 34 fills spaces a and b between cathodes of a network
configuration or a plate configuration, causing the contact specific
surface area to be increased. Cathode group 30 is placed between the
anodes of anode group 20 and thus divides the electrolysis space into a
plural through which an electrolysis process is to be performed at
several times, causing the recovery rate of the valuable metals to be
increased.

[0074] Again, referring to FIGS. 3-5, valuable metals recovery process,
that is, electrolysis process using electrolytic bath 1 for recovering
valuable metals in which contact specific surface area is increased
according to the present invention will be described as following.

[0075] First, waste water containing valuable metals is inputted into an
inner space of housing 10 through input tube path 40 with a pumping power
provided by external pump P. At this time, the waste water passes through
inlet 11 of lower cap 10c and is inputted into an input path 10c-1 and
then passes through input path port 10c-2 with the pump pressure and is
inputted into an internal space of housing 10. Here, preferably, the
waste water is inputted into first electrolysis space A, that is, the
space formed by internal anode 21 of anode group 20 and the inner side
wall of middle cathode 31 of cathode group 30. After that, the waste
water having passed through first electrolysis space A flows over an
upper part of middle cathode 31 of cathode group 30 and then is moved to
second electrolysis space B formed by external anode 22 of anode group 20
and the external surface of middle cathode 31 of cathode group 30.

[0076] Meanwhile, a quantity of cathode wire thread 34 fills one side of
each of first and second electrolysis spaces A and B, that is, space a
formed by first cathode 32 and middle cathode 31 of cathode group 30, and
space b formed by second cathode 33 and middle cathode 31. First and
second cathodes 32 and 33 are each configured as a network, and the waste
water passes through the network configuration to contact the surface of
the cathode wire thread.

[0077] When electric power is supplied to an electrode tip protruded
outside from the housing, current moves through anode group 20 and
cathode group 30 and the valuable metals within the waste water are
deposited and recovered by an electrolysis process on cathode group 30,
in more detail, the quantity of cathode wire thread 34 which has the
maximum specific surface area.

[0078] Here, the waste water containing valuable metals passes through an
`S` shaped flow path and is electrolyzed. The waste water is inputted
through inlet 11 and passes through first electrolysis space A, flows
over middle cathode 31 and enters second electrolysis space B.

[0079] In addition, the waste water containing valuable metals passes
through lower waste water output path distance c of external anode 22 and
then is discharged outside through waste water output path C formed by
external anode 22 and an inner side wall distance d of external body 10a
of housing 10 and through a plurality of outlets 12 placed on an upper
side thereof.

[0080] Meanwhile, when the waste water is inputted into housing 10 through
inlet 11, the waste water moves with an upward flow velocity caused from
its internal pressure and thus the waste water is prevented from leaking
into gas discharge hole 13 by fluid avoidance ball 14 and passes safely
through the electrolysis space. Additionally, gas produced during an
electrolysis process is discharged outside through gas discharge hole 13,
causing the electrolytic bath to be safe, and remaining gas is discharged
outside through gas outlet 12, together with waste water.

[0081] Finally, predetermined amount of current density additions is
inputted into the housing by an adjustment of a control valve (not shown)
on addition input tube path 50 and electric conductivity is controlled,
causing the recovery rate of valuable metals to be increased.

[0082] The electrolytic bath for recovering valuable metals in which a
contact specific surface area is increased according to the present
invention has following effects:

[0083] First, through the cathode group comprising the first cathode, the
middle cathode and the second electrode and having the cathode wire
thread filled therebetween, the contact specific surface area of the
waste water inputted into the electrolytic bath is increased and thus
even in case of the waste water containing minute amount of valuable
metals, the valuable metals can be deposited and recovered easily.

[0084] Second, the cathode group is placed between the internal anode and
the external anode to form a plurality of electrolysis spaces and thus
the waste water passes through the electrolysis spaces in sequence and
the valuable metals are deposited, causing an electrolysis efficiency to
be increased.

[0085] Thirdly, through the gas discharge hole formed on one side of the
housing, gas produced during an electrolysis process is discharged first,
improving the safety of the electrolytic bath. The fluid avoidance ball
blocks and controls the gas discharge hole depending on the internal
pressure, if necessary, to prevent leakage of the waste water.

[0086] Fourth, through the avoidance ball fence network for supporting the
fluid avoidance ball, the safety of the structure can be maintained.

[0087] Fifth, through the current density additions inputted, if
necessary, the cathode group and the anode group maintain a high electric
conductivity depending on the waste water of acidity, neutrality and
alkalinity property, causing the valuable metal recovery rate to be
increased.

[0088] Sixth, through cylinder shapes of the housing, the cathode group
and the anode group surrounding the inner side of the housing, the
specific surface area inputted through the inlet on the lower middle
thereof, with which the waste water is contacted is maximized and the
waste water passes through electrolysis space with rolling inside the
housing, causing a recovery rate of the valuable metals to be increased.

[0089] While the present invention is described referring to the preferred
embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and thus
various variation and modification can be made without departing from a
scope of the present invention.